According to a source who spoke to local media, the probe by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) into illegal bauxite mining and corruption related to the illicit practice will be winding down in the very near future.
MACC launched the investigation earlier this month in order to clamp down on bauxite mining that has continued to occur despite the government’s eighteen-month ban on the practice.
According to the source, MACC has completed necessary procedures in its seizure of 10 million metric tons of stockpiled bauxite originally housed on public and private lands in Felda Bukit Goh, Felda Bukit Kuantan, and Jabor.
In addition, a dozen government officials who were swept up in the illegal bauxite mining graft investigation, including ten state Land and Mines Office (PTG) enforcement officers, a senior Customs Department enforcement officer, and a PTG general assistant, have been released from custody.
According to MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Azam Baki, no further arrests will be made, and no more bauxite stockpiles will be impounded.
The news follows on the heels of comments made on Thursday by Regent of Pahang Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah expressing disappointment in the involvement in illegal bauxite mining by the state’s government officials. He went on to say that MACC was in possession of sufficient evidence to make arrests, but he hoped that the actions already carried out by the commission will serve as a lesson to those involved in illegal activity.